Portable radio telephone

ABSTRACT

A portable radio telephone having an antenna projecting from the top surface. The antenna can be pivoted from an upright position to an angled position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable radio telephone having aprojecting antenna. The portable radio telephone may, for example, be aradio telephone such as a conventional handheld cellular telephone, orit may be a so-called smart radio telephone or personal organiser havingradio frequency (RF) communication capabilities.

A handheld cellular telephone generally includes an antenna fortransmitting and receiving radio frequency signals. Some handheldcellular telephones have antennas which are movable, for example,between retracted and extended positions.

European patent publication EP 0 516 490 shows an example of a movableantenna for a portable cellular radio telephone, in the form of a whipantenna which may be extended out of the housing of the portabletelephone, or retracted into the housing of the portable telephone.

The Ericsson EH97 handheld cellular telephone shows another example of amovable antenna. Here the movable antenna is in the form of a rodantenna joined to the side of the cellular telephone housing so that itmay rotate through 360 degrees. The antenna can be rotated manually by auser between a retracted position and an extended position (see FIG. 1).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a portable radiotelephone having an antenna which can be pivoted between a firstposition in which it projects from a surface of the telephone, and asecond position in which it projects from a surface of the telephone,whereby the antenna may only pivot in a single plane and through anacute angle.

A portable radio telephone in accordance with the invention may have anadvantage that the antenna can be moved to a first position ideal formaking voice calls and to a second position ideal for storing thetelephone in a pocket or placing on a flat surface. Preferably, in thissecond position the profile of the radio telephone is minimised.

The antenna of the portable radio telephone projects from a surface ofthe telephone housing in both the first position and the secondposition. Thus a user can easily pivot the antenna from the firstposition to the second position or vice versa.

Having the antenna projecting from the surface of the telephone housingin both the first position and the second position may also improveperformance of the antenna by providing a better radiation patterncompared to an antenna not projecting from a surface.

The antenna may be pivotable to one or more stable positions, preferablytwo stable positions. The antenna may also be biased towards and/orreleasably locked in the stable positions.

Ideally in a first stable position the antenna is generally upright andin a second position the antenna is generally slanted, angled or cantedrelative to the main body of the telephone.

A user of the telephone may have the antenna of the telephone in theupright position most of the time. However, when a call is received bythe telephone the antenna may be manually or automatically pivoted tothe angled position for the duration of the call. Equally when the userinitiates a call the antenna may be manually or automatically pivoted tothe angled position for the duration of the call.

In a preferred embodiment the surface which the antenna projects from isan end surface of the telephone. Ideally the surface is a top surface ofthe telephone.

Preferably the antenna is a helical antenna which may be substantiallyaxially symmetric.

The shape of the antenna may be cylindrical, or it may be conical.

In a preferred embodiment the antenna is attached to the telephone by ahinge arrangement which ensures that the antenna only pivots through anacute angle and in a single plane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side and front view of the Ericsson EH97 cellular telephonediscussed in the introduction;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a radio telephone in accordance with theinvention with the antenna in a upright position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the radio telephone of FIG. 2 with theantenna pivoted to an angled position.

FIG. 4 is a view of a radio telephone in accordance with the inventionin use, with the antenna pivoted to an angled position;

FIG. 5 a is a side view of a radio telephone in accordance with theinvention with the antenna in a upright position;

FIG. 5 b is a side view of the radio telephone of FIG. 4 a with theantenna pivoted to an angled position.

FIG. 6 is a series of three partial views of a radio telephone inaccordance with the invention, showing the antenna in three differentpivoted positions.

FIG. 7 is another series of three partial views of a radio telephone inaccordance with the invention, showing the antenna in three differentpivoted positions.

FIG. 8 is another series of three partial views of a radio telephone inaccordance with the invention, showing the antenna in three differentpivoted positions.

FIG. 9 is another series of three partial views of a radio telephone inaccordance with the invention, showing the antenna in three differentpivoted positions.

FIG. 10 is a view of the radio telephone of FIG. 4 which shows pivotingof the antenna by a thumb of a user;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the radio telephone of FIG. 4 b when placed ona surface;

FIG. 12 is cross-sectional view of a portion of a radio telephone inaccordance with the invention, with the antenna in the upright position;

FIG. 13 is cross-sectional view of a portion of the radio telephone ofFIG. 12, with the antenna pivoted to an angled position;

FIG. 14 is cross-sectional view of a portion of a radio telephone inaccordance with the invention, with the antenna in the upright position;

FIG. 15 is cross-sectional view of a portion of the radio telephone ofFIG. 14, with the antenna pivoted to an angled position;

FIG. 16 is an perspective view of a telephone in accordance with theinvention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a portable radio telephone 1consisting of a main body portion 12 and an antenna 13.

The main body portion 12 of the telephone comprises a generallyrectangular housing having a front surface 16, a back surface 17, sidesurfaces 15, a bottom surface 18, and a top surface 14. The main bodyportion is generally elongate and accordingly defines a major axis,shown as A-A in FIG. 2. The telephone is designed to be brought intooperating proximity with the head of a user as shown in FIG. 4 such thatin general the front surface 16 faces the head of a user, the backsurface 17 faces away from the head of the user, the bottom surface 18faces downwards, and the top surface 14 faces upwards.

The main body portion 12 of the telephone 1 includes an earpiece 19 anda microphone 20 both situated on the front surface 16. The earpiece 19and microphone 20 are positioned to cooperate respectively with the earand mouth of a user as shown in FIG. 4.

The user interface of the telephone 1 further comprises a keypadincluding keys 21 for controlling the operation of the telephone, and adisplay 22 (e.g. an LCD display) for displaying information relevant tothe operation of the telephone. Illuminating means (e.g. LED's) areprovided to help a user see the keypad and display in bad lightconditions. These illuminating means may be switched on or off dependingon the operational state of the telephone.

The antenna 13 of the telephone 1 projects from the top surface 14 suchthat it extends beyond the housing of the main body portion 12. Theantenna 13 is a helical antenna having a generally cylindrical shapewith a rounded distal end. The antenna 13 defines a major axis aboutwhich the antenna is axially symmetric. The shape of the antenna maytake other similarly symmetric forms such as a conical shape. Theseforms of antenna are often referred to to as stub antennas. In FIG. 2the major axis of the antenna is substantially parallel with the majoraxis of the main body portion and is normal and perpendicular to the topsurface.

Referring to FIG. 5 a there is shown a side view of another telephonesharing the same features as the telephone in FIG. 2. The antenna 13again projects from the top surface 14 such that it extends beyond thehousing of the main body portion 12. In this embodiment the top surfaceis curved or rounded. As shown in FIG. 4 a, the major axis of theantenna is substantially parallel with the major axis of the main bodyportion and is again normal to the top surface.

In accordance with the invention the antenna 13 of the telephone may bepivoted from the upright position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 a, to an angledor canted position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 b.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the antenna 13 may pivot about an axis B-Bsuch that the major axis of the antenna is substantially perpendicularto axis B-B throughout the rotation of the antenna. Accordingly, theantenna rotates only in a single plane. This single plane is parallelwith the side surfaces, perpendicular to the top surface, andperpendicular to the front surface.

The pivotal rotation of the antenna is limited such that the antenna mayonly rotate through a small angle φ between the upright position and theangled position as indicated by arrow C in FIGS. 3 and 5 b. In this waythe antenna always projects from the top surface of the telephone.

When the antenna is in the canted position the angle subtended by themajor axis of the main body portion and the major axis of the antennaequals φ. In the canted position the antenna is also directed ororientated away from front surface 16 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 b.

When the antenna is in the upright position and the telephone is broughtinto operating proximity with the head of a user, the radio frequencyperformance of the antenna is affected. This is due to the head of theuser disturbing the radiation pattern normally produced by the antenna.By pivoting the antenna to the canted position while the telephone is inoperating proximity with the head of a user, the antenna performance isimproved. This is due to the antenna pivoting away from the head so thatthe head has less of a disturbing effect on the radiation patternproduced by the antenna.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 9 there are shown four possible ways in which anantenna of a telephone in accordance with the present invention may bebiased and/or locked as it pivots between the upright and cantedpositions. In each of the FIGS. 6 to 9 there are shown 3 views, namely aview of the antenna in the upright position, a view of the antenna inthe partially canted position, and a view of the antenna in the fullycanted position. Each arrow in the FIGS. 5 to 8 refers to the directionin which the antenna is biased. The biasing may be provided by, forexample, a spring action.

Referring specifically to FIG. 6, the antenna is neutrally biased in thepartially canted position, and on either side of this position is biasedtowards the upright and fully canted positions. Accordingly, the antennais stable in the upright and the fully canted positions.

Referring specifically to FIG. 7, the antenna is releasably locked inthe upright position, and once released is biased towards the fullycanted position. Accordingly, the antenna is stable in the upright andthe fully canted positions.

Referring specifically to FIG. 8, the antenna is releasably locked inthe fully canted position, and once released is biased towards theupright position. Accordingly, the antenna is stable in the upright andthe fully canted positions.

Referring specifically to FIG. 9, the antenna is always biased towardsthe fully canted position. Accordingly, the antenna is stable in thefully canted position.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown the telephone of FIGS. 5 a and5 b being operated by a hand of a user. With the fingers and palm of thehand gripping the main body portion 12, the thumb is free to pivot theantenna 13 from the upright position to the canted position. Thus thetelephone allows one handed pivoting of the antenna to control theoperation of the telephone. It is also possible to pivot the antennawith two hands.

When storing the telephone of FIG. 4 a in a pocket, for example, it isdesirable to have the antenna of the telephone in the upright positionso that the profile of the telephone is minimised. Another instance whenit is appropriate to have the antenna in the upright position is whenplacing the telephone on a flat surface. Sometimes, however, the antennamay be in the canted position when it is placed on a flat surface asshown in FIG. 11. In this situation the telephone is likely toexperience a downward force on its front surface 16, as indicated by thearrow labelled F. An advantage of the telephone in this situation isthat the antenna may adopt the upright position as a consequence of theforce F pivoting the antenna relative to the main body portion.Accordingly, the telephone is likely to wobble on the surface and alsothe antenna is less liable to break or snap as a result of the force F.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are cross-sectional views of the telephone shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, showing a pivot arrangement for the antenna, and a switchresponsive to pivotal movement of the antenna between the uprightposition and the canted position. The antenna 13 pivots about the pivotpin 25 only between the upright position shown in FIG. 12 and the angledposition shown in FIG. 13. The pivotal rotation of the antenna islimited in this way by the stop pins 27 which abut the antenna toprevent further pivotal rotation at the extremes of the antenna'srotation. A switch 26 is provided in the housing of the main bodyportion 12 and is coupled to a microprocessor of the telephone tocontrol the operation thereof. The switch 26 is actuated depending onwhether a switch actuator 29 on the antenna 13 is in close proximitywith the switch. In FIG. 12 the antenna is in the upright position andthe switch actuator 29 is not in close proximity with the switch,therefore the switch is not actuated. However, when the antenna ispivoted to the angled position as in FIG. 13, the switch actuator 29 isin close proximity with the switch and the switch is actuated. Theswitch 26 may be a magnetic reed switch and the switch actuator 29 amagnet.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are cross-sectional views of the telephone shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, showing an alternative pivot arrangement for the antenna,and an alternative switch responsive to pivotal movement of the antennabetween the upright position and the canted position. The antenna pivotsin the same way as in FIGS. 12 and 13. However, the antenna 13 in thisembodiment includes a camming surface 30 which abuts a sprung camfollower 28 in such a way as to produce the biasing action shown in FIG.6. The switch 26 is actuated in this embodiment as a result of a surfaceof the antenna 13 urging the switch closed. In FIG. 14 the antenna is inthe upright position and a surface of the antenna pushes the switchclosed, therefore the switch is actuated. However, when the antenna ispivoted to the angled position, the surface of the antenna does not urgethe switch closed and the switch is not actuated. The switch may be aleaf switch.

Another embodiment in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 16.In this embodiment the main body portion 12 is pen shaped and theantenna 13 extends beyond the housing of the main body portion. The mainbody portion also has a microphone 20 situated towards the bottom of thetelephone and a loudspeaker 19 situated towards the top of thetelephone.

In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a personskilled in the art that various modifications may be made within thescope of the invention.

The scope of the present disclosure includes any novel feature orcombination of features disclosed therein either explicitly orimplicitly or any generalisation thereof irrespective of whether or notit relates to the claimed invention or mitigates any or all of theproblems addressed by the present invention. The applicant hereby givesnotice that new claims may be formulated to such features duringprosecution of this application or of any such further applicationderived therefrom.

1. An apparatus comprising: a portable radio telephone; an antenna witha pivot point positioned within the radio telephone, and first andsecond stop pins positioned within the radio telephone, wherein theantenna is arranged to pivot about the pivot point only at an acuteangle in a single plane between a first position defined by the firststop pin in which the antenna projects from a top surface of thetelephone, and a second position defined by the second stop pin in whichthe antenna projects from the top surface of the telephone, the antennabeing biased and configured to be locked as the antenna pivots, whereinthe single plane is substantially perpendicular to a front surface ofthe radio telephone.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising aswitch actuated by pivoting the antenna for controlling operation of theradio telephone.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna isbiased towards the first position.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe antenna is releasably locked in the first position.
 5. The apparatusof claim 1, further comprising a switch for controlling operation of theradio telephone and an actuator on the antenna for actuating the switch.6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna is biased towards thesecond position.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna isreleasably locked in the second position.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein in the first position the antenna projects substantiallyparallel with a major axis of the main body portion.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein in the first position the antenna projectssubstantially perpendicular to the top surface of the main body portion.10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile of the radio telephoneis minimised when the antenna is in the first position.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein in the second position the antenna iscanted relative to a major axis of the main body portion.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the single plane of rotation intersectsthe top surface of the main body portion.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the antenna is a non-retracting helical antenna.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the main body portion includes an earpiecepositioned near the antenna.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein themain body portion includes a microphone positioned distant from theantenna.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna extendsbeyond the main body portion.
 17. The portable radio telephone of claim1 wherein the antenna is releasably locked in the upright position, andonce released is biased towards a fully canted position whereby theantenna is stable in the upright and the fully canted positions.
 18. Theportable radio telephone of claim 1 wherein the antenna is releasablylocked in a fully canted position, and once released is biased towardsthe upright position whereby the antenna is stable in the upright andthe fully canted positions.
 19. The portable radio telephone of claim 1wherein the antenna is always biased towards a fully canted positionwhereby the antenna is stable in the fully canted position.
 20. Anapparatus comprising: a portable radio telephone; and a non-retractingantenna configured for single handed operation, the antenna having apivot point, a first stop pin, and a second stop pin positioned withinthe radio telephone, wherein the antenna pivots about the pivot pointonly at an acute angle in a single plane between a first positiondefined by the first stop pin in which the antenna projects from a topsurface of the telephone and a second position defined by the secondstop pin in which the antenna projects from the top surface of thetelephone, the antenna being biased and adapted to be locked as theantenna pivots, wherein the single plane is substantially perpendicularto a front surface of the radio telephone.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20wherein the antenna in the first position is stable and wherein theantenna is biased towards the first stable position.
 22. The apparatusof claim 21 wherein the antenna in the second position is stable andwherein the antenna is biased towards the second stable position andwherein the antenna is releasably locked in the first stable position orthe second stable position.
 23. A portable radio telephone comprising anantenna with a pivot point and first and second stop pins internal tothe telephone, wherein the antenna is arranged to pivot about the pivotpoint only at an acute angle in a single plane between a first positiondefined by the first stop pin in which the antenna projects from a topsurface of the telephone, and a second position defined by the secondstop pin in which the antenna projects from the top surface of thetelephone, the antenna being biased and configured to be locked as theantenna pivots, wherein the single plane is substantially perpendicularto a front surface of the radio telephone.
 24. The portable radiotelephone of claim 23 further including stop members internally of thetelephone for limiting the movement of the antenna through the acuteangle.
 25. The portable radio telephone of claim 23, further comprisinga switch for controlling operation of the radio telephone and anactuator on the antenna for actuating the switch.